How do Charpy values determined using subsize specimens relate to results from full-size

specimens?
Full-size Charpy specimens are 10mm thick by 10mm wide. Sub-size Charpy specimens
referred to in the following are defined as those of identical width but smaller thickness.
When relating sub-size Charpy results to full-size values, there are two issues of concern. One
is the value of impact energy and the generally accepted method adopts a simple net section
area-scaling rule to calculate impact energy values for thinner specimens. The second issue is
the inherent shift (for identical material) in brittle-to-ductile transition for thinner ferritic steel.
Two relations have been developed to address this issue, based on the measured transition
temperature shift for normalised Charpy energies between 25J/cm2 and 50J/cm2
(corresponding to 20J to 40J in full-size specimens).
The relations are given below:
T1 = -0.7 (10-t)2
(Ref.1)
0.25
T2 = 51.4 ln (2 (t/10) -1) (Ref.2)
Both give similar results in thickness range between 2 and 10mm, see table below (T2 is
recommended in BS 7910).
Thickness, t
T1, C T2, C
mm
9
-1
-3
7.5
-4
-8
5
-18
-20
2.5
-39
-45
For Charpy requirements to be equivalent, the measured Charpy energy (normalised by the
specimen net section area in J/cm 2 units) has therefore to be specified at a colder temperature
for sub-size specimens. The table below gives two examples using T 2.
10 x 10mm 5 x 10mm 2.5 x 10mm
specimens specimens specimens
Equivalent
27J
14J
7J
Charpy properties (34J/cm2) (34J/cm2) (34J/cm2)
At temperature
-20C
-40C
-65C
Equivalent
40J
20J
10J
Charpy properties (50J/cm2) (50J/cm2) (50J/cm2)
At temperature
-20C
-40C
-65C